"It will send a strong message that as South Africans, we will do everything in our power to preserve our heritage," she told AFP.

"We believe it's an appropriate sentence that will be able to send a message that as a country we will never tolerate people who come in our country, unlawfully so, with the purpose of destroying our wildlife."

Lemtongthai can now appeal his sentence.

Environment Minister Edna Molewa had called for Lemtongthai to receive a "stricter sentence" than usual with the seeking a 260-year sentence.